Typically when players are looking for a virtual reality fitness game, they want something that will burn calories as quickly as possible. However, these types of games are exhausting and can’t be played for very long until a player is wiped out. Just like a traditional workout, it is best to have a mixture of exercises ranging from high to low intensity. These lower impact titles are perfect for a change of pace or new VR users that have just started their fitness journey. To make this as easy as possible, we here at VR Fitness Insider have come up with a list of the 10 best low intensity VR fitness games. These will make sure that you can get into better shape while not overexerting yourself.
If you’re looking for some more intense titles and other recommendations, check out our list of the 25 best VR fitness games 2019.
Top 10 Best Low Intensity VR Fitness Games
Bardo
Archery titles have been a VR fitness mainstay ever since headsets launched, and Bardo is one of the best ones that have come out the past couple years. This wave-based shooter doesn’t feature much leg movement, although players can walk around the environment a bit even though there is no good reason to do so. It makes up for it in other areas as it is a pretty solid arm workout. Later levels can get more intense, as players will want to duck and shoot enemies in rapid succession, but it’s a fairly relaxed title for the most part. Even though it is still in early access, this is worth picking up.
Bardo is currently available on Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift.
Dance Central VR
An Oculus exclusive, Dance Central VR is a great version of Harmonix’s popular dancing series. There are plenty of memorable hits on its track list such as “Sorry” by Justin Bieber, DJ Snake & Lil Jon’s “Turn Down For What,” and “Like A G6” by Far East Movement (featuring The Cataracs & DEV). Dancing is always a fun way to get into better shape and lose weight, and this is no exception. With multiple difficulty levels, this can be an excellent (and forgiving) low intensity workout or more of a challenge for those looking to better their choreography skills.
Dance Central VR is currently available on Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest. Those on other platforms that want to play a dancing title should look into Holodance as an alternative.
Echo VR
Echo VR is comprised of two different titles in Echo Arena and Echo Combat, and they are both some of the best low intensity VR fitness games. The great news is that the Ready at Dawn-developed title is free to Oculus owners, so those with a Rift can enjoy it without spending any extra moolah. Both modes have players moving through a zero-gravity field, which is why it doesn’t require a ton of movement. Combat has players shooting opponents and cooperating with your three teammates to achieve objectives, while Echo Arena is an esports-centric competitive mode that has players using melee attacks and gliding around as they score goals. Both modes are quite enjoyable, and are two of the most rewarding multiplayer titles in VR.
Echo VR is available now on Oculus Rift and is coming soon to Oculus Quest. It was awarded our Best VR Competitive Fitness Game of the Year in 2018.
Hotel Transylvania Popstic
Don’t be fooled by Hotel Transylvania Popstic just because it is based upon the family-friendly animated film franchise of the same name. This is actually one of the best low intensity VR fitness games as it has players moving around while they pop color-coordinated bubbles to music. There are three difficulty levels, and Very Easy will be what players looking for a less intense workout will want to pick. It winds up being a great overall workout as players have to squat to avoid lasers and get a great arm workout while popping bubbles.
Hotel Transylvania Popstic has a fitness rating comparable to an elliptical by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It is currently available on Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality.
In Death
Another archery title, In Death provides a great lower intensity arm workout. As one would expect, there is not much of a leg workout here even though players can dodge out of the way oncoming arrows and sword strikes. Requiring regular arm movement, it winds up being a solid calorie burner even though your heart rate won’t be raised very often. The game itself manages to differentiate itself from other shooters due to its cool afterlife setting and it has roguelite elements to keep it replayable over time.
In Death is currently available on Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift. It was awarded our Best VR Fighting Fitness Game of the Year in 2018.
Katana X
As you can probably guess from the name, Katana X has players swinging a virutal katana. As a result, it is a really enjoyable arm workout and quite the blast as players slice their way through fruit and other objects while avoiding bombs. There is a nice variety of objects to slash through and it keeps players regularly moving around during their playthrough. However, it never overwhelms the player with objects to deal with and it instead provides a solid workout at a regular pace. The awesome physics will make this one of the coolest arm workouts in virtual reality.
Katana X has a fitness rating comparable to an elliptical by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It is currently available on Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift.
Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR
As the name suggests, Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR is an excellent table tennis simulation. As a result, it winds up being a great test of your reaction speed and your arms. While it can be pretty intense later on, there are 16 different robot opponents to face off against and the beginner foes are perfect for those looking to relax a bit. The physics are excellent, as you’ll develop table tennis skills that translate into real life, and there is minimal leg movement involved.
Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR is available now on Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, and PlayStation VR. It has a fitness rating comparable to an elliptical by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise.
Sports Scramble
Exclusive to Oculus headsets, Sports Scramble is an eccentric sports mash-up that has players competing in beloved stick and ball sports but with a twist. The gimmick is that you have the wrong equipment, so you’ll play tennis with a golf club instead of a racket and attempt to hit home runs with a hockey stick rather than a bat. It is totally absurd, but it makes for a great workout either by yourself or with friends. Helping make it one of the best low intensity VR fitness games is that it is highly replayable and always fun despite not working up a huge sweat.
Sports Scramble is available now on Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest.
Superhot VR
Superhot VR is a fantastic low intensity VR game, and it’s one of the best titles that the medium has to offer in general. As one can guess by its unique art style, this is not your average first-person shooter. The title operates on the gimmick that time only moves when the player physically move. That turns combat encounters into more of a puzzle than a test of reflexes, although there is plenty of bending your body in order to dodge bullets from your enemies. The end result is a great low intensity core and leg workout.
Superhot VR has a fitness rating comparable to walking by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It won VR Fitness Insider’s Best VR Shooting Fitness Game of the Year in 2017. It is currently available on Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, and PlayStation VR.
To The Top
A platformer that revolves around giving the player an unprecedented amount of freedom in movement, To The Top is another of the best low intensity VR fitness games. Players have to work their way around some awesome looking obstacle courses and it never becomes too intense as player’s legs remain stationary throughout. The game features a lot of replayability that will keep players coming back to it as there is a full campaign to play through and a fun multiplayer mode. At just $19.99, you won’t find much of a better value in terms of VR titles.
To The Top has a fitness rating comparable to walking by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It is currently available on Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, and Windows Mixed Reality.
That does it for VR Fitness Insider’s list of the top 10 best low intensity VR fitness games. With these great titles, even beginners can have a blast while getting in better shape.
